IDC3002H - 12/7/2018
WHAT ARE MAGIC MUSHROOMS? BY: ALAN GLIKMAN & LIAM O' GARA
AN OVERVIEW OF WHAT PSILOCYBIN MUSHROOMS ARE, THEIR HISTORY, THE CAUSATION OF PSYCHOGENIC HALLUCINATIONS, THEIR IMPACT ON THE HUMAN MIND, AND THE EFFECTS THE FUNGI HAS ON A HUMAN'S BODY.
Aren’t mushrooms just the most fascinating entities on planet Earth? There are over 10,000 known species of mushrooms that are documented in the world to this day and many more that we have yet to discover and study. Within these 10,000-known species, every single mushroom is quite unique. Even though two mushrooms may seem identical to each other when being examined by the eye, the chemical composition and effects of the two fungi can be completely different. Some cultures incorporate mushrooms as a part of their staple diet. There are also mushrooms that are poisonous and when consumed lead to illness or even death. Interestingly enough, there are even mushrooms that are quite rare and are extreme delicacies and viewed as luxuries. Finally, there is a select group of mushrooms known as “magic mushrooms.”
One famous mushroom that is within this prestigious group of “magic mushrooms” is the psilocybin mushroom and it is considered to be magical because of the hallucinogenic effects it has on the human body when devoured.
What are psilocybin mushrooms?
Psilocybin mushrooms, also known as “magic mushrooms” are psychedelic mushrooms that are formally known as being members of a polyphyletic group of fungi and are considered as hallucinogens. Hallucinogens are drugs that cause hallucinations and even though psychedelic mushrooms are fungi and naturally grown, the FDA regulates these mushrooms as schedule I drugs under the United Nations in 1971. Schedule I drugs define drugs that have high potential for abuse and addiction. So, what inside psilocybin mushrooms makes them so dangerous and provide the hallucinations? Well the answer to this would be found when taking a look at the chemical composition of this fungi. Chemical analyses of psilocybin mushrooms prove that they contain two active ingredients that cause hallucinations, psilocybin and psilocin.
Example #1 of Psilocybin Mushrooms -
H is t o r y o f p sil o cy b in m u sh r o o m s The consumption of psilocybin mushrooms with the intent of experiencing hallucinations is not a recent discovery but on the contrary, ties all the way back to before the common era of time. It may be close to impossible to pinpoint the exact date of when hallucinogenic mushrooms were first consumed, but there is physical evidence in the form of stone paintings that show Saharan tribes of North Africa consuming the fungi around 9000 BC. Rock paintings created around 4000 BC in Spain suggest that psilocybin mushrooms were consumed during religious rituals near Villar del Humo as well.
Remains such as symbols, statues, and paintings of Native American cultures like the Mayas and Aztecs indicate that psilocybin mushrooms were consumed during religious rituals as a form of communication with the gods and deities. Psilocybin mushrooms were not only consumed by native tribes in North America but remnants were also found in Central American tribes such as: the Nahua, Mazatec, Mixtec, and Zapatec. Psilocybin mushrooms did not make their way to Western civilization until the late 1950’s through the help of authors and ethno-mycologists, R. Gordon Wasson and Roger Heim, who spoke about the discovery of the fungi and their findings. When the drug became accepted in the United States for its hallucinogenic experiences, it became paired and associated with the contemporary hippie culture of the early 1960’s.
Example of Psilocybin Mushroom Stone Statues -
What do psilocybin mushrooms look like? Psilocybin mushrooms are quite recognizable when found outdoors growing in nature. These mushrooms tend to have skinny, slender stems that are topped with brown caps. Underneath these brown caps, one will be able to notice dark gills on the underside. Psilocybin mushrooms are quite tiny and have a small stature. The fungi also have a separable gelatinous pellicle which is found on the top layer of the mushroom cap and can be peeled off when the mushroom is fresh. The separable gelatinous pellicle adds a slimy, wet shine to the mushroom cap.
What provides the psychogenic hallucinations? Psilocybin is a naturally occurring hallucinogenic alkaloid compound and has psilocin as its partner for the cause of the hallucinations. Psilocin is a monoamine alkaloid and a serotonergic psychedelic substance. What this means is that the psilocin modifies nerve endings within the brain that release and stimulate serotonin into the body. The combination of psilocybin and psilocin is a dangerous mixture because together they alter the serotonin levels within one’s mind and cause hallucinations one may experience after consuming psilocybin mushrooms. Psilocybin would be converted into psilocin within the human body and this would block out or replace the serotonin hormone found within the human brain, thus causing the hallucinations.
- Example #2 of Psilocybin Mushrooms
How does the human brain react to psilocybin? Psilocybin is an alkaloid compound in "magic mushrooms" that is able to inhibit brain activity in human beings. The psilocybin is initially inactive, and then once metabolized, is converted to the active ingredient psilocin. The psilocin then activates many neurotransmitter receptors throughout the brain. It has been accepted for a long time that the psilocin and many other hallucinogens are most effective when activating the 5-HT serotonin receptor. When the psilocin activates this receptor, there is activity on both excitatory and inhibitory neuronal circuits. Psilocin interacts with receptors on relatively large excitatory neurons, while doing the same on smaller inhibitory neurons, in order to inhibit neurotransmission.
This causes a net effect of a decrease in neurological activity and connectivity. When a human is subject to doses of psilocybin, there is a considerable decrease in cerebral blood flow in key brain regions: the anterior and posterior cingulate cortices, and the thalamus. It was shown that the intensity of the "trip" or experience was very closely related to lack of blood flow in the thalamus and anterior cingulate cortex. The study conducted by Carhart-Harris also shows a decrease in connectivity between different parts of the brain, resulting in an overall disconnect across very important parts of the brain
A. Displays the chemical change when psilocybin is activated B. Shows the different 5-HT receptors that are activated C. Illustrates the psilocybin interacting with different receptors -Lee, Roth
How does one feel after consuming psilocybin? The human brain reacts to psilocybin based on the size of the dosage. Low doses have been shown to cause drowsiness and highlight one's preexisting mood. Medium doses of psilocybin produce a very controllable altered state of mind or consciousness, and a high dosage results in a very strong psychedelic experience. This experience will include dream-like states, illusions, hallucinations, and altered sense perceptions. This results in altered selfperception, an altered perception of the external world, the feeling of observing oneself from outside of the body, an impaired sense of time and space, impaired attention span, thoughts of unusual or ridiculous ideas, change of intuition, mood swings, anxiety or elation, impaired concentration, and extreme nervousness. The emotions during a trip can vary greatly from pleasant and happy to extreme anxiety and very unhappy.
Psilocybin was shown to produce greater visual hallucinatory effects than other hallucinogens. These symptoms of psilocybin have been shown to last as long as 24 hours. Psilocybin has also been shown to bring about spiritual or mystical experiences. These experiences can have been shown to have a very positive influence on many people's view on life, and has been shown to help patients with depression and even PTSD.
This graph show the ten most common experiences that people who have taken psilocybin have reported -Gary Webber
Conclusion Psilocybin or "magic" mushrooms are naturally occurring mushrooms that are categorized as a schedule one drug because of their hallucinogenic affect on human beings. The mushrooms are very distinguishable, with their skinny stems, round brown caps, and dark gills underneath the caps. The psilocybin inside these mushrooms is a naturally occurring alkaloid that is metabolized once consumed. This converts it into psilocin, which begins to activate neurotransmitters within the brain. After activating the serotonin receptors, both excitatory and inhibitory neurons are triggered. This causes a significant loss in cerebral blood flow, and causes a hallucinogenic reaction. This reaction includes feelings like seeing a change in surroundings, seeing unusual patterns, and feeling unusual bodily sensations. The mushrooms have also been known to cause a mystical experience, which has led to widespread research on psilocybin's ability to cure depression and PTSD.
According to Nature, the scientific magazine, the first study on whether or not psilocybin can be used in treating depression. Imperial College in London, gave 12 clinically depressed people a dose of psilocybin. Each had been depressed for an average of 17.8 years, and after one week of receiving an oral dose of the drug every single one of them reported an improvement in their symptoms. After three months, five patients were in complete remission. The test was able to prove that giving patients psilocybin was safe, and can be very useful. The scientists hope that these findings can also help people who are depressed because of terminal cancer or PTSD. According to another article in Nature, the mystical experiences resulting from psilocybin are known to linger for up to one whole year. The study was used to show that this drug can be taken responsibly to relieve the anxiety brought up by depression or a sickness like cancer. The study gave a single dose of of psilocybin to 36 patients that all reported valuable after-effects during a follow up study. After 14 months, 67% of the participants said that the treatment was "one of the five most spiritually significant moments of their lives." 64% also stated that their sense of well-being or life satisfaction increased. The study hopes to create scientific questions about therapeutic applications for the drug.
- Example #3 of Psilocybin Mushrooms
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